Modern Athlete Magazine Issue 61, August 2014 | Page 29

Johan wants his own Comrades medal.

Work injuries left me unable to
walk properly, let alone run, but
with time and motivation, I have
been able to return to road running
events as a walker, and now my
goal is to line up for the Comrades
Marathon in 2015. – BY JOHAN NEL

I

had never been a runner, but I had
always been athletic and involved in martial
arts. Then the privilege of running was taken
away from me due to injuries, all work-related.
In 1993 I was working for the Protection
Services in Ballito when we were called out to
fight a fire in a building, and I suffered serious
injuries when I took a bad fall while fighting
the fire. Then in 1994, shortly after returning
to work, I sustained further injuries when I
slipped while walking down a bank.
This made the injury even worse, and the
doctors had to fuse my right leg, which meant
that I was unable to continue working and I
was medically boarded. I also ended up with a
back problem a couple of years ago, because
I had to swing my hip in order to walk, and
so vertebras L3, L4 and L5 had to be fused as
well.
The leg stayed fused for 11 years, until an
orthopaedic surgeon from Kempton Park
gave me new hope in 2005. My right knee
was reconstructed with two titanium rods

Inspired by working at Comrades 2014.

and a titanium hinge to service as a knee.
I got 30% use of the knee back, but with
not using any muscles in that leg for 11
years, and with others having been cut
and damaged, it was a long, slow recovery
– but at least I could start walking longer
distances again.

BACK ON THE ROAD
So last year, I undertook a hike/walk of
863 kilometres over 21 days from Ballito to
Phalaborwa. It was something I had always
wanted to do, and even though I then had
to recover from a bone marrow leak – I’ve
had 15 operations on the leg already, so the
doctors say it is just one of those things I
have to contend with – I now want to do
another long walk. The next one is still in
planning, but I am looking to walk from
Joburg to Durban, and this time I also want
to do it for charity.

Ma

Rest break on the road to Phalaborwa.

So, I entered the 5km fun run at the Orion
Save Marathon on the 1st of September
2013 and enjoyed it. Not long after that,
my next race was the Duke of York 16km in
October, and I did another two 10km races in
November. I finished them all, and this year
I joined the Nedbank Running Club, then
completed my first half marathon in February,
at the Maritzburg City Marathon, followed
by another 10 and a 15. My times since I
started have improved by nearly two minutes
a kilometre!

Images: Courtesy Johan Nel

Learning to
Walk

my goal

BRING ON THE BIG ONES
The next events I have planned are The
Longest Day 12-hour circuit race on 26 July,
where the minimum distance for a medal is
60km, and after that it is the Mandela Day
Marathon on 31 August, where I will try to
qualify for next year’s Comrades. I never

I never worry about my leg or back, and I
have a very positive outlook, so as long as the body
lasts, I will keep on walking and take part in races,
because I am very motivated.
I also decided that I want to take part in road
running races. My brother has been involved in
running for 30 years, and the past two years
I helped with the medals at the Comrades
Marathon, so now I want to take part in it as
well… despite the fact that I cannot run at all
and have to walk my races with a leg that’s only
got 30% use and that I’m not in full control of.

worry about my leg or back, and I have a very
positive outlook, so as long as the body lasts,
I will keep on walking and take part in races,
because I am very motivated. In other words,
should I not qualify with this race, there are
more races – and I will qualify!

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